Poor Diet Linked To Poor Performance in School Children

In the first study of its kind, researchers have linked an overall poor diet with unfavorable school performance. Previous studies have linked certain nutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron, protein) with poor performance in school, but none have looked at an overall diet pattern.

The research was conducted on 2,200 elementary school children in Taiwan. Both parents and children filled out a questionnaire asking how frequently the children consumed certain food items. The items were then grouped into 4 categories, "highly nutrient dense foods" (including vegetables, fruit, meat, fish and eggs), "dairy products," "traditional Taiwanese foods" (including internal organ meats, seafood, and soy products), and "sweets and fried foods."

There was a substantial association between unfavorable overall performance in school and high intake of low-quality foods, such as sweets and fried foods. These same children were also likely to have a low intake of high-quality foods, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs and dairy products. The greater the number of unhealthful eating patterns, the higher the risk for unfavorable school performance.

Bottom Line - Making sure your child eats a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein like fish, beans and low fat dairy may help them perform better at school. Limiting the fried foods and sugary sweets will help, too

Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2007; 107:1935-1943


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